WORKING WITH NONPROFITS AND LOCAL LEADERS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS

We had a very productive District Work Period this week, and one of my top focuses was visiting with Oregonians who are working to address homelessness across the 5th District.

On Wednesday, I was in Redmond and visited Oasis Village, a community that provides transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness. They also offer comprehensive wrap-around services, like helping residents apply for stable housing and teaching skills like cooking healthy meals and budgeting. I enjoyed learning more about this community – a lot can be learned from the people working on the front lines. I could tell from my conversations that the staff is very dedicated and residents have a deep appreciation for their services.

The next day, I brought together nonprofit directors, county commissioners, state legislators, city councilors, and other local leaders and stakeholders for a roundtable in Oregon City to discuss reducing homelessness. We held the roundtable at The Father’s Heart Street Ministry, and we also learned more about the services they provide to the homeless.

More federal funding, reducing barriers to affordable housing, and providing more treatment options for behavioral health problems that contribute to homelessness were all key parts of our conversation. I want to extend a big thank you to all of our participants for their insights. I look forward to continued collaboration on this issue.

You can learn more about the bipartisan bill I’ve authored and introduced, the DIRECT Care for the Homeless Act, by clicking HERE. I also recently passed a bill to help lift veterans out of homelessness by providing them with financial assistance. Learn more HERE.

TOURING REDMOND WETLANDS COMPLEX

Reinvesting Oregonians’ tax dollars back into our state is one of my top priorities. In the House-passed Interior Appropriations bill, I secured funding to help Redmond complete their new Wetlands Complex – a cost-effective and sustainable method for treating wastewater. I enjoyed receiving an update on their plans and progress this week!

LEARNING MORE ABOUT PLANS FOR A NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER

I met with emergency response personnel and local leaders in Redmond to discuss plans and funding needed for CORE3. This center would serve as a regional training and response hub where local, state, and federal officials could coordinate rescue and recovery efforts for major disasters – including wildfires, earthquakes, or other natural disasters. I appreciated the update and stand ready to assist at the federal level.

VISITING ST. CHARLES HOSPITAL IN BEND

St. Charles provides health care services to two-thirds of Oregon. I met with them to discuss ways to address the shortage of psychiatrists in rural areas, budgeting priorities, and other health care issues impacting hospitals in Oregon. Improving health care access to underserved areas continues to be a top priority of mine. Next week, I’ll be helping introduce legislation to expand telehealth services in rural communities.

While I was at St. Charles, I also had the pleasure of meeting their therapy dog, Mr. Red 🐶

CASHIERING AT JACKSONS

To learn more about issues facing our convenience stores, I visited Jacksons in southeast Portland on Thursday. Some of their priorities include expanding access to meals for SNAP recipients, transaction processing fees, and more. Thank you for having me and for allowing me to work behind the counter for a bit!

Q&A AT WILLAMETTE VIEW

Thursday evening, I held a question-and-answer session with residents at Willamette View. I answered a lot of great questions on Medicare and prescription drug costs, border security, child care affordability, and my legislative goals for 2024. Thank you to everyone who participated!

FARM BILL UPDATE

🎙️ Getting an effective Farm Bill completed will continue to be one of my top priorities this year. Listen to my recent interview with KBND by clicking below for an update ⬇️

USDOT ANNOUNCES GRANT TO HELP OREGON WITH STORM RECOVERY

This week, the Federal Highway Administration awarded over $16 million in grant funding to help us rebuild and recover from the recent storms that swept across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. This much-needed investment will help our communities complete infrastructure repair projects, remove downed trees, and more!

ONE MORE THING!

Tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day for us to honor the memories of six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. As we commemorate their lives, we also recommit ourselves to combating antisemitism and cruelty in all its forms.

Thank you for reading my weekly newsletter. It's an honor to be your voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. Your thoughts, concerns, and comments are very important to me. Always feel free to get in touch by calling (202) 225-5711 or by visiting my website at chavez-deremer.house.gov.

Sincerely,